Editorial December 19, 2016 Issue

Mary’s Christmas message—humility empowers us

Tony Lobl

Humility has had something of a bad rap over recent decades. It has often been seen as weakness in contrast to power, vulnerability in the face of aggression, and self-effacement in place of self-promotion. But is that truly what humility is?

Perhaps an answer lies in the story celebrated this time each year, particularly the role played by a remarkable young woman. Millions of Christmas cards annually portray Mary meekly cradling the infant Jesus, whose birth was the promised arrival of a long-anticipated Messiah. But they can’t begin to depict the powerful spiritual backstory of this meek mother.

Mary’s child grew to be humanity’s greatest benefactor, pointing the way beyond the burdens of material belief by proving the truer, spiritual nature of all, as God’s children. Yet did the Bethlehem babe’s birth coincide with a glimpse of this divine idea? Yes, according to another woman named Mary—Mary Baker Eddy.

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